Harare, Zimbabwe, May 02, 2025, – A wave of renewed purpose and strategic insight swept through 40 youthful community-based organizations across Zimbabwe, following an impactful advocacy and governance training convened by SAYWHAT with support from the European Union (EU). The intensive program, held from the 8^th – 11^th of April 2025 under the Youth Collective Action for Social Transformation (YCA4SoTra) initiative, equipped these dynamic Youth- Organizations from marginalised communities with crucial skills to drive meaningful social change.

Representing six provinces in Zimbabwe – Harare Metropolitan, Bulawayo Metropolitan, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, the participating organizations immersed themselves in sessions designed to enhance their capabilities in policy analysis, evidence building, community engagement, and social accountability. This strategic investment in youth leadership not only underscores SAYWHAT core objective of fostering an environment where young people can thrive but directly contributes to Zimbabwe’s vision to become an upper middle-income economy by 2030.

SAYWHAT Executive Director, Mr. Jimmy Wilford, emphasized the organization’s commitment to mentorship, noting that SAYWHAT itself benefited from guidance in its formative years. Mentorship from the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH), shaped SAYWHAT early development and today the organization has evolved from a student movement focused on sexual and reproductive health rights into a dynamic force uniting young people across Africa. The Director affirmed that this legacy of support motivates SAYWHAT’s continued investment in youth leadership development throughout Zimbabwe and the broader continent.

The training produced remarkable results through innovative engagement methods such as problem tree analysis, power mapping, and real-world examples. Participants demonstrated a profound shift in their understanding of movement building, recognizing that sustainable advocacy requires synchronized rather than competitive approaches. Through these interactive exercises, attendees developed concrete strategies for forging lasting partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups. Notably, participants crafted actionable plans for resource pooling and collaborative planning, moving beyond theoretical concepts to practical implementation. The advocacy plans on 5 thematic areas – climate change, child protection, digital transformation, SRHR, and youth empowerment were presented on the last day of the training in the presence of key stakeholders including Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, The EU Youth Sounding Board, SAYWHAT National Coordinating Committee, and SAYWHAT technical partners Save the Children and WILD.

Mr. Tapiwa Gava, the SAYWHAT National Coordinating Committee Chairperson, lauded the commitment of the young leaders. He acknowledged the many challenges youth face today including climate change, gender-based violence, lack of access to healthcare and education framing them as opportunities for meaningful advocacy.

“We live in a world today where young people are surrounded by challenges on every side, and all the 40 youth led organizations in this room you are surely hitting the target no matter what direction you are shooting”- Tapiwa Gava.

While Deputy Director Youth Empowerment, Mr. O. Mudhunguyo, affirmed SAYWHAT and its partners’ efforts coming to fruition and the Ministry’s commitment to support the youth organization’s key priorities.

“The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development, and Vocational Training pledges to stand alongside SAYWHAT, its partners, and these youth-led organizations to ensure their advocacy plans are effectively implemented. Together, we can create an environment where every young person feels empowered, included, and heard”.

For many of the youth organizations present, the experience was not just an educational exercise, it was a turning point. For Mr. Alfa Gwatidzo of the Munondida Foundation, the training provided a timely and critical intervention in addressing operational challenges.

“Frequently, our grant applications fall short due to governance-related requirements. This invaluable training has equipped us with the knowledge to establish robust structures that meet international standards, enabling us to contribute more effectively to the needs of young people.”

The impact extended beyond organizational growth to tangible action plans. Ms. Tapiwa Dzipasi from the Zimbabwe Youth for Impaired Persons Trust spoke with determination about her next steps.

“We are energized to launch a community-led monitoring project specifically focused on empowering people with disabilities to advocate for themselves. We are determined to move beyond being represented by others; we want to stand tall, advocate fiercely for our rights, and hold stakeholders accountable to ensure our needs are truly addressed.”

Their words echoed the sentiments of many in the room, leaders galvanized, ready to implement change. As the youth organizations departed, they carried not just knowledge, but a renewed commitment to transform their communities. This training was more than just a learning opportunity; it was a catalyst for action, a foundation upon which stronger, more empowered youth advocacy would be built.